With Independence Day just one day away, there are plenty of fun, family-oriented activities planned throughout Santa Barbara County to celebrate our nation’s birth.
The city of Santa Barbara will be hosting its annual Fourth of July beachfront celebration at West Beach, inviting people to a day of food, music, fun for all ages — along with a fireworks display.
Festivities at the waterfront and Stearns Wharf will be held from noon to 8 p.m. There will be face painting, wine tastings, fishing gear rental and palm reading, as well as vendors selling jewelry, arts and crafts and toys, among other activities. Live music will be provided by local rock bands Unknown Daze (noon to 3 p.m.) and Tequila Mockingbird (4 to 8) before fireworks are shot off right next to the wharf at 9 p.m., according to city officials
Attendees are reminded there is no camping on the beach and those who decided to block off a spot tonight are not allowed to physically stay on the site overnight.
Waterfront parking lots will be open Thursday, with the wharf closing the vehicle traffic from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Additional bike racks will be provided for cyclists and shuttle service will be provided throughout the day.
The Downtown Shuttle service will run every 10 minutes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. (break for the parade), and the Waterfront Shuttle will be offered throughout the day as well. For more information on the bus and shuttle schedule, visit www.sbmtd.gov.
Cabrillo Boulevard will be closed to vehicle traffic beginning at 6 p.m. and will reopen between 10 and 10:30 p.m., officials said.
Attendees are reminded to use the hashtag #SBFourth wherever and whenever they post to social media.
Fireworks can also be viewed at Santa Barbara City College, both at the West Campus Great Meadow and East Campus Winslow Maxwell Overlook.
The Santa Barbara Mission will host a 4th of July Art Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking and admission are free. The show features 100 artists, including jewelers, glass blowers, ceramics, paintings, unique objects, woodwork, furniture, clothing, leather, gifts and more. The show started in the 1960s and is one of the longest running art shows in California.
At 1 p.m., the 56th annual 4th of July Parade hosted by the Pierre Claeyssens will roll down State Street. The parade will begin at Micheltorena Street and conclude at Cota Street. It will feature more than 175 local organizations and agencies.
At 4:30 p.m., the Santa Barbara Foresters will take on the OC Riptide at Pershing Park.
At 5 p.m., West Coast Symphony Orchestra will present “The Dream of America” free concert at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Garden.
In Montecito, the Montecito Fire Protection District will be hosting its annual pancake breakfast. The event is scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Station 1, 595 San Ysidro Road. Tickets are $10 and children 10 and under eat for free. The annual Village 4th of July Parade will start at 11:30 a.m. at Upper Manning Park, 449 San Ysidro Road, and end at Lower Manning Park for lunch and live music.
In Goleta, the Goleta Valley Historical Society will host an Old Fashioned Fourth of July event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rancho La Patera & Stow House, 304 N. Los Carneros Road.
Admission if $7 for adults and free for GVHS members and children 12 and under. The event will include live music, classic cars, pony rides, an old engine show, games, live music and more. No dogs are allowed, per health department regulations, officials said.
The Rotary Clubs of Goleta are hosting their annual 4th of July Fireworks Festival from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Girsh Park, 7050 Phelps Road. Tickets are $10 for adults, kids 12 and under are free. No alcohol or pets are permitted. Free parking is offered for bicycles and vehicles in the Camino Real Marketplace parking lot. The fireworks begin at 9 p.m.
The annual July 4 celebration in Solvang will be held from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring a parade, three free concerts, food and fireworks show.
The festivities will begin with a concert at 10 a.m. by the Santa Ynez Valley Wind Ensemble at Solvang Park, at Mission Drive and First Street. The parade will be held at 11 a.m. with the theme of “We the People.” The 2019 parade grand marshals are Rutledge “Putty” Mills and his wife, Carol. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. before a concert by the Santa Ynez Valley Master Chorale and local musicians. The festival opens at 2 p.m. with live entertainment starting at 5 p.m. Admission if $10 for adults and free kids under 7 and active duty military and their dependents with ID. Fireworks will be on display from 9 to 9:30 p.m in the fields at the Santa Ines Mission, 1760 Mission Drive. Free parking is offered in public lots and businesses throughout Solvang.
The Santa Maria community is invited to celebrate Independence Day at the Red, White and Boom! Fireworks Show and Family Festival beginning at 6 p.m. at Sierra Vista Park, 809 Panther Drive. The Molly Ringwald Project will perform live music from 6 to 9 p.m. and refreshments will be for sale from local food trucks. Picnicking is permitted by no barbecuing, tailgating, glass containers or tent canopies are allowed, officials said.
The event will conclude with a community fireworks show at 9 p.m. No personal fireworks are allowed.
Parking opens at 4:30 p.m. and is available on Panther Drive for $5 per car.
In Lompoc, tickets for the Lompoc Recreation Division’s 4th of July Spectacular Fireworks Show can be purchased at the Anderson Recreation Center, 125 W. Walnut Ave., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. Pre-sale tickets are $3 for youth ages 12 and under and $5 for adults. Tickets purchased the day of the show are $6 for youth 12 and under and $8 for adults.
Gates open for the show at 5 p.m. at Hyuck Stadium. Glass containers will not be permitted, and neither will ice chests, pets, smoking or alcohol.
